Governor in south Russia hopes to profit from locust swarms

 

 

The governor of Astrakhan region in southern Russia proposed on Monday exporting locusts, killed to protect crops, to Asian countries as a delicacy.

Swarms of locusts have been attacking crops in the Astrakhan region of southern Russia since May 25. The regional government has declared a state of emergency amid fears the insects may destroy more than 50,000 hectares of crops.

"I saw a report yesterday on how many millions we spend annually on the fight against locusts and I thought maybe we can make it a profitable business, because people in dozens of countries around the world eat locusts," Alexander Zhilkin wrote on his internet blog.

Zhilkin suggested that locusts could be dried, salted, frozen and exported, or sold to Thai or Chinese restaurants.

The official believes that apparently crazy ideas may sometimes turn into ingenious solutions.

Swarms of locusts can travel great distances, rapidly stripping fields and causing extensive damage to crops.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 29 (RIA Novosti)

 

 

 

 

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